US Polo

North America, Polo News

Hawaii Polo Life claims U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship Title

29. March 2019

Edging their way past teams in bracket play comprised of the best women’s players in the world, Cabo Wabo and Hawaii Polo Life entered the Susan G. Komen U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship™ Final 3-0 on Saturday, March 23, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) in Wellington, Florida. Relocated from Houston, Texas, to South Florida for 2019 the tournament faced some rain delays with preliminary games being split between Port Mayaca Polo Club in Okeechobee, Florida, and IPC. Showcasing strategic team organization and exceptional horsepower, the women of Hawaii Polo Life demonstrated their prowess in the second half to definitively claim the championship title 10-5.

Utilizing the sharp reflexes of a 10-goaler, Nina Clarkin skillfully took a pass from Mia Cambiaso around defenders to score the opening goal within the first thirty seconds of play. An offensive powerhouse from the start, Hawaii Polo Life successfully prevented Cabo Wabo from completing any of their set plays in the first chukker, enabling the team in blue to pick up another field goal and an impressive Penalty 4 conversion. “It’s amazing now to look back and think we’ve won considering we nearly didn’t make it into the semifinals,” Clarkin said. “I knew that we had a good team and we hadn’t quite reached our potential yet, but in the semifinals we played well. All four of us played hard, worked for each other and the team really came together today and it showed.”

As play intensified in the second, costly fouls against Hawaii Polo Life gave Cabo Wabo the opportunity they had been waiting for to get on the board. Countering Clarkin’s early Penalty 2 conversion, Hazel Jackson went to the penalty line three times and did not disappoint. Pulling her team forward, Jackson’s precision narrowed the gap and ended the half 4-3 in favor of Hawaii Polo Life.

Only a one-goal difference headed into the third, both teams made powerful and strategic plays in their attempt to gain a significant lead. The first to strike was from Mia Cambiaso, taking advantage of a broken knock-in to swiftly put the ball between the opposing goal posts, Hope Arellano retaliating soon afterwards. Closing in on Cabo Wabo’s goal, Hawaii Polo Life was poised to take advantage of every mistake, Clarkin securing a two-goal lead 6-4. “If I could mark the opposing team’s best player and keep them out of the play with the horses I had and execute that job properly I knew I would be helping my team,” Pamela Flanagan said. “Just focusing on that player and playing unselfish polo is something I really took away from this experience and how impactful that strategy can be for your team.”

Their momentum and confidence continuing to build, Hawaii Polo Life peaked in the fourth, delivering an explosive series of four consecutive field goals to assert their dominance. All her goals coming from the penalty line, Jackson converted a final Penalty 4 before conceding victory to Hawaii Polo Life 10-5.

“Today I played two horses I’d never been on before and Adolfo [Cambiaso] and Robertito [Zedda] told me to trust them,” Flanagan said. “They were the best horses I’ve ever been on in my life! One of the horses that Mia normally plays she passed to me and I passed my horses on to Anja Jacobs. We all shifted horses around and made it work for our position, which worked out beautifully. We were really organized, Nina was incredibly instrumental, and without the support of Valiente we wouldn’t have performed as we did.”

Responsible for seven out of Hawaii Polo Life’s 10 total goals, Nina Clarkin was named Most Valuable Player.

“I was so well mounted. I was playing horses today that Adolfo Cambiaso plays, I mean what a dream,” Clarkin exclaimed. “I felt that they did everything I needed them to on the field. I think both teams were really well mounted and that showed in the speed of the game and the quality of the polo played today. Adolfo told me when he gave me the horses, ‘no excuses now,’ so I’m just pleased that I did my job!”

Best Playing Pony honors were presented to Got Milk, played by Hope Arellano in the second chukker.

Chris Dawson representing Hawaii Polo Life expressed his excitement at being a part of promoting women’s polo through this sponsorship. “First and foremost, this is an incredible opportunity for Hawaii Polo Life to support women’s polo,” Dawson said. “In Hawaii we love everyone so it’s a great opportunity for people to make friends while playing polo competitively and then build on it. I expect next year there will be more teams and more opportunities and if we did that then we did our job.”

Clarkin echoed his sentiments on the overarching benefits to women’s polo. “For us to be able to play on platforms like these, IPC’s U.S. Polo Assn. Field and Palermo in Argentina, is great for women’s polo because its being given the exposure it deserves. Just look at the quality of the players in the game today, young players like Hope [Arellano], Mia [Cambiaso], and even Pam [Flanagan]. There are a lot of women coming through the sport who are very talented polo players and it’s only going to get better and better.”

by U.S. Polo Association

Photos: Gabrielle Stodd

Edging their way past teams in bracket play comprised of the best women’s players in the world, Cabo Wabo and Hawaii Polo Life entered the Susan G. Komen U.S. Open…

North America, Polo News

Valiente defends title at the USPA Gold Cup at IPC Palm Beach

4. April 2018

Valiente defends title at the USPA Gold Cup against Flexjet with 12-11. Driven by an ambitious desire to sweep the Triple Crown of Polo, powerhouse Valiente rode for the second consecutive year into the USPA Gold Cup® Final on Sunday, April 1, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Untouchable throughout tournament play, Valiente faced a strong offensive drive by Flexjet in their second matchup, but ultimately defended their title 12-11.

Claiming two immediate goals in the first, Facundo Pieres set the pace for a fast, competitive final. As the first half progressed, both teams relentlessly traded goals back and forth, Flexjet strategically taking every available opportunity to intercept the ball and capitalize from the penalty line. Demonstrating excellent control, Adolfo Cambiaso propelled the ball downfield, expertly weaving it between Flexjet’s defenders to pick up his first goal in the second. Staying in position and making key plays happen, Valiente’s optimal teamwork secured two additional goals, keeping them ahead by two at the end of the second. “I was mainly playing back on Flexjet’s hit-ins and trying to push forward on our plays,” Tommy Beresford revealed. “I tried to make space for Adolfo and Facundo and since those two are the best they can usually pull through with that.” Missing several opportunities to score, Flexjet allowed Cambiaso to get on another breakaway to goal, doubling the scoreboard. Just before Facundo Pieres could score another goal, Rodrigo De Andrade managed to steal the ball and move it downfield, ending the half 6-3 in favor of Valiente.

Benefiting from gaining possession from the initial throw-in at the start of the fourth, Flexjet’s De Andrade made an effective team play with Nico Pieres for a fast field goal. As both teams began to play a more open style of polo, the goals also began to stack up with increasing speed. Valiente acted quickly in retaliation with a goal each by Cambiaso and Beresford, preventing Flexjet from making up any ground and maintaining a three-goal lead. Explosive in the fifth, Nico Pieres played his strongest chukker yet, hitting a giant neckshot to goal and converting a Penalty 4 and 6 in an effort to derail Valiente in the second half. Consistent throughout, Valiente anticipated the plays and followed through with their team strategy, using Beresford to protect Facundo Pieres and allowing him to have the open shots to goal.

Valiente still in the lead 11-9 as the final chukker began, Cambiaso grabbed his fifth goal of the game, determined to prevent another uprising from Flexjet. Charging up and down the field, De Andrade finally managed to score two consecutive goals bringing his team within one, but the 30-second horn ended Flexjet’s final drive. Valiente claimed their second consecutive USPA Gold Cup® with a final score of 12-11.

Responsible for seven out of 11 goals, five from the penalty line and two from the field, Nico Pieres was named Most Valuable Player. Best Playing Pony honors were awarded to Macarena, a grey mare owned by Mariano Gonzalez and played by Adolfo Cambiaso in the third chukker. “Macarena is an amazing, fantastic horse that can run as long as I need her to,” Cambiaso said. “She will rest for a bit now then go to Argentina to play the Argentine Open with me.”

Looking forward to participating in the prestigious U.S. Open Polo Championship®, Bob Jornayvaz recognizes the steep competition Valiente will have to face in the final 26-goal tournament of the season. “Now the hard work begins, we can’t lose focus so we need to stay healthy and keep the horses healthy” Jornayvaz said. “You have to go out on the field with a game plan, execute it, and stay disciplined. Flexjet came within one goal and that’s when we need to fall back on our game plan because that’s what a good organization is all about.”

Valiente defends title at the USPA Gold Cup against Flexjet with 12-11. Driven by an ambitious desire to sweep the Triple Crown of Polo, powerhouse Valiente rode for the second…

North America, Polo News

Coca-Cola takes home inaugural Carlos Gracida Cup

3. April 2018

Coca-Cola wins inaugural Carlos Gracida Cup in overtime with 11-10 against La Indiana. Undefeated La Indiana and Coca-Cola met at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida, with hopes to secure the first Carlos Gracida Cup title. In a close back-and-forth game, Coca-Cola secured on Saturday, March 31, the win in overtime 11-10.

Adrenaline pumping from the first throw-in, Coca-Cola scored the opening goal in the first 40 seconds off of Steve Krueger’s mallet. La Indiana’s Jeff Hall quickly answered back, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Intense play ensued in the first three chukkers as the Coca-Cola squad played tough defense with Sugar Erskine effectively blocking several La Indiana shots on goal. Despite Coca-Cola’s defensive plays, each player of La Indiana made it on the board in the first half to begin the fourth chukker tied 4-all.

The second half was characterized by several fouls as both teams fought to gain control of the scoreboard. Back-to-back La Indiana goals from Toro Ruiz and Hall were quickly matched by goals from Krueger and a powerful team play by Gillian Johnston and Nacho Novillo Astrada. A Penalty 4 conversion from Hall, his third goal of the day, gave La Indiana a 7-6 lead with two chukkers remaining. Coca-Cola, determined not to let the game slip away from them, added two goals in the fifth, shutting out La Indiana. Only a one goal difference on the board in favor of Coke, sixth chukker play was aggressive. Facundo Obregon, solid from the penalty line, sunk a Penalty 2 to equalize the score yet again 8-8. Coca-Cola’s Sugar Erskine was not about to give up so easily, making an impressive run to goal that had the crowd cheering from the sidelines. With only a few seconds remaining in regulation time, Coca-Cola held the lead 10-9, but La Indiana quickly gained an opportunity to force the game into overtime with an awarded Penalty 2 scored again by Obregon. A successful shot through the uprights sent the game into a seventh chukker 10-all.

Five seconds into the overtime period, a Penalty 4 was awarded to Astrada, who successfully converted, securing the Carlos Gracida Cup Coca-Cola win 11-10. Most Valuable Player was awarded to Erskine whose defensive plays and impressive field goals helped propel Coca-Cola to victory. “We knew they were going to be super tough because of the way they have been playing the whole year. They kind of had us, and scored a few goals on us, but we got it back in the end,” said Erskine. “We kept pushing and pulling, and they are super handy and sticky as a team, but we just kept pushing and were happy to take home the win.”

Best Playing Pony honors were awarded to Gillian Johnston’s eight-year-old mare Fanta (Rayo Gringo x Fresca) played in the first, fifth and overtime chukker.

Erskine went on to share the significance of the win, “I feel super lucky to be back after my injury and to win this tournament. Carlos Gracida was a huge part of my heart throughout my life. I was a fanatic back in the day when we didn’t have all of the coverage and internet articles. You would get the occasional magazine and he was in it, and he was a huge part of my life; I idolized him when I was a kid. When I got here to the states, I got to meet my hero and play against him and it was a very sad day when he passed. It meant a lot to me to win the first tournament here in his name, the Carlos Gracida Cup.”

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